The best road cycling routes in Bemelerberg & Schiepersberg

A good climb up, but for us it was downhill.

Atmospheric Abbey, with its own brewery

🚴‍♂️ The Kruisberg climb from Wahlwiller is short, steep, and notorious – a true test of the South Limburg hills, especially known for the Amstel Gold Race, where it often heralds the decisive race phase. 📍 Key data for the southern ascent (Botterweck) Length: approx. 0.8 km Elevation gain: approx. 67 m Average gradient: 8.4% Maximum gradient: up to 17% Starting point: Wahlwiller (Botterweck) Finish: Summit at the memorial cross, where several trails converge 🧭 Character & route Extremely steep over a short distance – ideal for explosive climbers The road is narrow and leads through a rural setting with little traffic. Part of the "Limburgs Ergste" and a regular feature of the Amstel Gold Race program.

🚴‍♂️ The Noorbeekerweg climb from Mheer to Noorbeek is a rather inconspicuous yet solid section in the hilly South Limburg countryside – ideal as a warm-up or connecting stage. 📏 Route profile Length: 800m Elevation gain: 37m Average gradient: 4.8% Steepest 100m: up to 7.8% Road surface: Good asphalt, mostly along a connecting road

🏰 The Withuishof estate is a historic property on the edge of the Scharn district of Maastricht, in the Dutch province of Limburg. It originally dates back to the 17th century and has been remodeled several times over the years – the neoclassical façade from 1801 is particularly striking. Here are a few highlights of its history and use: 🏡 Former residence: In the 18th century, the estate belonged to the Sleypen family, later to the Schoenmaeckers family, who built a considerable fortune through shrewd real estate purchases. 🕊️ Resistance during World War II: Baroness Hélène Schoenmaeckers, a resident of the Withuishof, was a member of the resistance and helped prisoners of war escape. She narrowly survived the Ravensbrück concentration camp. 🧘‍♀️ Conventual era: From 1952, the Ursuline sisters used the property as a retreat. 🏢 Current use: Since 2013, the Withuishof has served as a coworking space and houses around 30 companies. The premises can also be rented for events. The property is part of the Buitengoed Geul & Maas estate and has been listed as a national monument since 1967. It is idyllically located near hiking and cycling trails—perfect for nature lovers and history buffs.

A short climb begins at the mill. It has a gradient of between 4 and 6%.

Beautiful route, up and down

Station building of the Dutch Railways, 1912-1915, including the platform roofs in reinforced concrete. The station is situated in the line of sight of the Wycker Percee and as such forms the urban development end of this transverse breakthrough from the old Maas bridge through the old street pattern of Wyck and the former fortifications to the railway yard. The exterior of the station is designed in a sober, neo-renaissance-influenced architectural style. The interior shows strong Berlagian influences. The station was designed by railway architect Ir. G.W. van Heukelom, commissioned by the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen. The original elevated bridge to the other side of the yard has been demolished. The new elevated bridge with lift between the station vestibule and Meerssenerweg plus the service houses and the gatehouse on the south side of the station are excluded from protection. The architecture shows a preference for long flat facades, parallel roofs and window divisions with vertical accents. This vertical accent is reinforced by the gables and the stair tower. Subtle ornamentation by applying facade bands, small rod divisions in the window series, facade bands, simple decorative brickwork, block and mouse tooth decorations, facade plaques with provincial coats of arms in the cornice of the station entrance, gable braiding, diamond motifs, ridge pawns, etc. Granite lions with the coat of arms of Maastricht above the entrance, designed by Willem Brouwer and carved by Simon J. Tempelman. The reinforced concrete roof of the first, second and third platforms, with steel column bands and yellow-green tile ornaments, is the first platform roof in the Netherlands to be made of such a material. Source and more architectural and heritage information at https://www.monumenten.nl/monument/506688